A Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday granted bail to a businessman and former Chairman of Daar Communications Plc, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, in the sum of N200m with two sureties in like sum.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on December 11 arraigned Dokpesi along with his firm, Daar Investment and Holdings Ltd, ‎on six counts of money laundering and procurement fraud involving about N2.1bn which he allegedly received from the office of the National Security Adviser for the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential media campaigns. Read more

I have no hand in Nnamdi Kanu’s travail – Uwazuruike

National Christian Elders Forum, NCEF, yesterday, called on the Federal Government to critically examine the current agitation for the republic of Biafra and give the agitators a fair hearing. The forum also observed with contempt the impression that only one section of the country with same religion faith was qualified to be the Chief Justice of the Federation. Read more

Court summons I-G for contempt, says not above the law

The National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Abuja, has ordered the Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Solomon Arase, to appear before it on Feb. 8, 2016 to show cause why he should not be committed to prison for contempt. Justice Peter Lifu gave the order in a ruling he delivered on Monday in a post-judgment case on wrongful dismissal of Sgt. Atabo Okpanashi. Read more

FG to partner TUC on employment generation – Ngige

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige, said on Monday that the Federal Government would partner Trade Union Congress (TUC) to create jobs for the teeming youths across the country.

Ngige said this when he met with the leadership of the union in Abuja. Read more

New policies to boost business coming soon – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday in Abuja said his administration will soon introduce more policies to further ease the process of doing business in Nigeria.

Speaking at a forum on how to enhance Nigeria’s trade and economic competitiveness at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the President said the new policies will be focused on increasing efficiency and transparency in government operations, and the blocking of leakages from revenue generating agencies. Read more

Four policemen arraigned for murder in Edo

Four policemen attached to the Special Anti Robbery Squad, Lagos Police Command, have been remanded in Prison, in Benin City, Edo State, for allegedly killing a car dealer, Benson Obode.

The four policemen – Adedeji Adeleke (33), Oniyo Musa (35), Abena John (33) and Henry Shobowale (32) came to Edo State to investigate a report on a stolen car and arrested the late Obode on May 21. Read more

25% End-Of-Year bonus: Lagos workers laud Ambode

Workers under the employ of the Lagos State Government on Monday lauded the State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode over the payment of 25 percent of basic salary as End-of-the-Year Bonus to them including employees of local governments and the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).

Some of the workers who spoke with journalists expressed deep appreciation and delights over what they described as one of the numerous steps taken by the Governor to accord public servants in the state their rightful position in the scheme of things and better their lot. Read more

The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) on Monday urged President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure that workers receive their salaries as and when due. The ASCSN in a statement signed by its Secretary General, Alade Lawal in Lagos, said that thousands of public servants in some ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) had not been paid their salaries since October.

The statement also advised the President to guard against fifth columnist that pushed past governments to implement anti-people’s policies. “This is the same ugly situation that prevailed last year until ASCSN threatened a nation-wide strike before salaries of workers could be paid. Read more

NDLEA: We are Guilty of Environmental Pollution

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, said on Monday that it had been guilty of environmental pollution by the way it burnt confiscated illicit drugs, but expressed delight that the regulatory agency, NESREA, had saved them from national embarrassment by not making the infraction public at the time the committed the wrong.
Rather, the NDLEA Director-General, Mrs. Roli Bode George, said through the FCT commander, Mrs Obijuru, that the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency had quietly cautioned them and shown them the proper way to dispose of such drugs without adversely impacting the environment. Read more

Fulani Kill 14, Injure Others in Jos Night Raid

At least 14 persons were on Sunday night killed and several others injured by suspected Fulani attackers at Kwata in Jos South Local government area of Plateau State‎.

The Fulani, according to a source in the community, Mr John Dalyop, had written to warn the community of Kwata, Trade Centre, and Kuru that they were not going to enjoy a peaceful Christmas season, but the communities took the warning lightly. Read more

Housemaid arraigned over alleged theft of N500, 000 belonging to her boss

A 30-year-old mother of two, Patience Benjamin, was on Monday docked before an Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ibadan over the alleged theft of N500, 000 belonging to her boss. Benjamin, a housemaid, was arraigned on a one-count charge of stealing.
The Police Prosecutor, Sgt. Sunday Ojeleye, told the court that Benjamin allegedly stole the sum of N500, 000 from her boss. Read more

Amaechi orders financlal, staff audit of NIMASA

The Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, has directed immediate financial and staff audit of the Nigerian Maritime and Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA). The minister gave the directive on Monday during his maiden tour of Lagos ports and a stop-over at NIMASA Resource Centre, Kirikiri. Amaechi also directed the Acting Director-General of NIMASA, Mr Haruna Jauro, to forward details of contracts awarded by the agency for verification. Read more

LG chairman dies two days after being sworn in

The Plateau State Government on Monday announced the death of the Chairman, Jos-East Local Government Area, Dr. Hosea Azi.

The state Governor, Mr. Simon Lalong, said Azi, who was sworn in as the chairman of the council on Friday, died in a car accident at Geraku, Nasarawa State on Sunday. Read more

No valid ID, no hotel accommodation – Tambuwal

The Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, has said any guest without valid identification cards will not be checked into hotels in the state as from January, 2016.

Tambuwal made the statement in Sokoto on Monday at the inauguration of a four-star hotel, called Hotel Taraka International.

”This new policy which mandates all guests in all hotels across the state to present valid ID cards before they are checked in will come into effect from January, 2016,” he explained. Read more

Ex-NIMASA boss re-arrested outside court

Security operatives, on Monday, re-arrested a former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Patrick Akpobolokemi, outside the premises of the Federal High Court on Oyinkan Abayomi Drive in Ikoyi, Lagos.

Akpobolokemi was picked up by mobile policemen and plain clothes operatives, who bundled him up and forced him into an awaiting bus just as he stepped out of the court premises. Read more

At Least 41 Police Officers Killed In Argentina Bus Crash

At least 41 Argentine police officers were killed Monday morning when a bus fell off the side of a bridge near the city of Salta in northern Argentina.

The Salta Civil Defense Authority confirmed to NBC News that another six officers were seriously injured and the rest had minor injuries. The bus was carrying 51 gendarmes, the national police force that patrols Argentina’s border regions. Read more

Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk, the Pope’s spokesman said the pontiff was aware ofthreats made by ISIS against him but was “not afraid” of the sick Daesh fighters.

He said Pope Francis is also refusing to have alterations made to his Popemobile to protect himself during this year’s Christmas Day message.

The Pope has been advised by police to beef up security in the wake of fresh threats but has refused to change his famously relaxed style of leadership in response to the jihadi group. Read more

Friendly fraud case against Messi shelved

Barcelona star Lionel Messi has avoided another embarrassing court case for tax fraud after he and his foundation were cleared of allegations relating to charitable friendlies played in 2012 and 2013 on Monday. Read more

EU leaders set to extend Russia sanctions at summit

EU leaders will debate sanctions against Russia over the Ukraine conflict at a summit this week and are expected to extend them for another six months, officials said on Monday.

Italy has called for a disussion when the leaders of the 28-nation bloc meet on Thursday and Friday, meaning that the sanctions rollover did not happen as planned at a meeting of EU ambassadors in Brussels last week. Read more

US prosecutors target banks over FIFA corruption claims

US prosecutors are threatening to punish banks for failing to flag up suspicious activity on accounts linked to world football’s scandal-hit governing body FIFA, the Financial Times reported on Monday.

US banks JPMorgan, Bank of America and Citigroup, Swiss lenders Credit Suisse and UBS and British HSBC and Standard Chartered are holding discussions on the issue with US authorities, the business daily said. Read more

Merkel vows to reduce refugee influx but rejects cap

German Chancellor Angela Merkel pledged Monday to “tangibly” stem a massive refugee influx to quell a rebellion in her conservative ranks but firmly rebuffed calls to slam the door shut.

At a pivotal party congress of her Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Merkel said Germany would pursue a range of measures to stanch the flow of asylum seekers, slated to number around one million people this year. Read more